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Local community moves to keep the Milwaukee’s Modjeska operating

MILWAUKEE, WI — The 1924 Rapp & Rapp-designed Modjeska Theater is in need of helping hands and the community is responding. Most recently home to a now-defunct youth theater, community leaders are looking for ways to keep the theater going, including possibly a return to the showing of motion pictures.

“Unfortunately, over the years, revenue from ticket sales, donations and grants has not been enough to meet rising operations and building expenses,” the theater board said in a statement that announced its closing.

“We just couldn’t keep operating in this economic climate,” said Michael Dwyer, vice president of the youth theater board. “We had an operating deficit and no confidence we could raise enough money to both meet the deficit and continue to put on productions.”

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Comments (6)

Those comments on the Journal Sentinel article are pretty intense. I can understand having an opinion on the matter. But I don’t understand why anyone would be so hell-bent to see the place torn down. Reminds of the Dupage Theatre controversy.

Well, as someone in the nearby area. I’ve been seeing people wanting the whole area around the Modjeska, include the Modjeska, leveled for a few years now. So, no surprise people are asking for its demolition. Then again, that tends to be general sentiment towards any old buildings in this country “Its old! That means its no good! Tear it down!”. Something about Americans, not sure what, does not connect with buildings the way they do in other countries. Always out with the old, in with the new.